Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunny Elizabeth’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunny Elizabeth’, characterized by its large upright purple inflorescences; ray floret colors: rays have stripes of RHS 155A, white, and RHS 68A red-purple, with base and tip RHS 67A; dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to upright and strong stems, and compact plant habit; and moderately vigorous growth habit, but less need for chemical growth retardation.

Genus and species of the plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T.Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunny Elizabeth’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T.Norl., commonly known as Cape Daisy and hereinafter referred to by thevariety denomination ‘Sunny Elizabeth’.

The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor, Bjarne Larsen, in Stige, Denmark. The newOsteospermum originated from a cross made in 2000 by the Inventorbetween Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl. designated ‘9913’(unpatented) and Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl. designated‘90.017.00’ (unpatented). The Inventor selected the new Osteospermumcultivar from the progeny of the above crossing in 2001 on the basis ofits inflorescence color and compact, freely branching habit. Plants ofthe new Osteospermum are upright, compact and have a unique colorcombination of upper and underside of the ray florets.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken andpropagated in trial production batches in Stige, Denmark, has shown thatthe unique features of this new Osteospermum are stable and reproducetrue to type in many successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunny Elizabeth’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ as a newand distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Large upright purple inflorescences, ray floret colors: rays        have stripes of RHS 155A white, and RHS 68A red-purple, with        base and tip RHS 67A;    -   2. Dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to upright and strong        stems, and compact plant habit; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit, but less need for chemical        growth retardation.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ can be compared to plants ofthe Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl. ‘Sunny Flora’ (unpatented). Inside-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Stige, Denmark,plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ and the cultivar ‘Sunny Flora’differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum have striking color        combinations of red-purple to pink ray florets and black disk        with orange pollen.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have obovate to spatulate        leaves while plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Flora’ have obovate        to lanceolate leaves.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum have shorter and sturdier        grey-purple peduncles while plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Flora’        have green peduncles.    -   4. Plants of the new Osteospermum are shorter and more compact        due to more branches than the plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny        Flora’.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ can be compared to plants ofthe parental cultivars ‘9913’ and ‘90.017.00’. Plants of the cultivar‘Sunny Elizabeth’ differ from plants of the parental cultivars, ‘9913’and ‘90.017.00’, primarily in inflorescence color.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ have not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ showing the colors astrue as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe color of the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Elizabeth’.

The first photograph shows a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ as grown in an 11 cm pot.

The second photograph shows multiple ‘Sunny Elizabeth’ plants in thegreenhouse.

The third photograph is a close-up, top view of the young and olderinflorescences of ‘Sunny Elizabeth’.

The fourth photograph shows the detail of front and back of ‘SunnyElizabeth’ inflorescences as well as the front and back of the leaf.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition. Plants weregrown under greenhouse conditions. Plants used for this description weregrown for about 20 weeks after cutting.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.            designated ‘9913’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl. designated            ‘90.017.00’ (unpatented).        -   Propagation.—Type cutting: terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18 to 21° C.            in tunnels in a greenhouse.        -   Root description.—Fine, well branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Perennial plant with upright plant habit. Osteospermum            flowers in composite capitulate. Freely branching with            lateral flowering branches forming at every node; dense and            bushy.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 18 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 16            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—21 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous growth rate.-   Foliage description: Leaves alternate, single, 4-6 lobed, close to    pinnate venation. Length: 3-6 cm. Width: About 35 mm. Shape: Obovate    to spatulate. Apex: obtuse. Base: attenuate. Margin: broadly lobed.    Texture: smooth, glabrous, shiny. Scattered short, stiff hairs.    Color: Young foliage, upper and lower surfaces: RHS 146B to 146C,    yellow-green. Mature foliage, upper surface RHS 147A, yellow-green,    lower surface RHS 147B. Venation, RHS 148A, yellow-green.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement and shape.—Tubular disk and            ligulate ray flowers in composite daisy heads; with 15            parted involucre.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring            and summer. Season can be extended by vernalization and long            day treatments.        -   Inflorescence longevity on the plant.—5 to 9 days (longevity            of individual inflorescences is highly dependent on            temperature and light conditions). Inflorescences            persistent, ray florets folding and withering slowly to RHS            N187B, gray-purple.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Typical: 12 mm. Observed: Composite            capitulum 10-14 mm.        -   Inflorescences.—Ray Florets: Typical number of ray florets            per inflorescence: 25. Observed number of ray florets per            inflorescence: 22-26. Length: Ray florets: About 27 mm.            Width (diameter): About 8 mm. Ray floret apex: lanceolate,            slightly retuse. Ray floret base: Fused. Ray floret margin:            entire. Ray floret color: Upper surfaces (when opening):            stripes of RHS 155A, white, and RHS 68A, red-purple, base            and tip: RHS 67A, red-purple; under side (when opening):            stripes of RHS N77C, purple, and RHS 65C, red-purple (pink).            Upper surfaces (fully opened): stripes of RHS 62D,            red-purple, and RHS 70B, red-purple; under sides (fully            opened): stripes of RHS N77C, purple, and RHS 69C, light            red-purple.        -   Disk florets.—Typical number of disks florets per            inflorescence: 75. Observed number of disks florets: 60-80.            Length: Disk florets: About 4 mm. Width (diameter): About            2 mm. Disk floret overall shape: tubular. Disk floret            tip/apex: attenuate. Disk floret base: fused. Disk floret            margin: entire. Disk floret color: Upper surfaces: RHS N89B,            violet-blue. Abaxial surfaces: Tips RHS N89A, violet-blue            and bases RHS 65D, red-purple.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 6 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: Base 144A yellow-green, apical            2 cm N187A, grey.        -   Phyllary.—Observed number of phyllaries: 20. Typical number            of phyllaries: 20. Length: 9-12 mm. Width: 3-4 mm. Overall            shape: lanceolate. Apex shape: acuminate. Base shape: fused.            Margin: entire, translucent. Color: Upper surface: RHS 138D,            green; lower surface: RHS 138B, green.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:    -   -   Location.—Disc florets only.        -   Anthers. Linear, fused, stamen color RHS 202A, black,            filament.—RHS N155B, white.        -   Pollen.—RHS N25A orange.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Location of gynoecium.—Ray and disc florets.        -   Pistil and stigma.—Typical pistil number: 1. Observed pistil            number: 1. Stigma color: RHS N187A, purple.        -   Style.—RHS N155B, white.        -   Seed.—Length about 1 mm, diameter about 0.3 mm.-   Disease/pest resistance: Good.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: Low.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have exhibited    good tolerance to draught, rain and wind. Temperature tolerance    −1° C. (30° F.).

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘SunnyElizabeth’, as illustrated and described herein.